Energy dissipative cushioning elements

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, method, computer program product, and/or system are described that determine an event, actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members, and dissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related Applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Related Application(s)).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/136,339 entitled WEARABLE/PORTABLE PROTECTIONFOR A BODY, naming Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Cameron A.Myhrvold, Conor L. Myhrvold, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. andVictoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed May 24, 2005, which iscurrently co-pending, or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/603,965 entitled ACTUATABLE CUSHIONING ELEMENTS,naming Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Cameron A. Myhrvold, ConorL. Myhrvold, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H.Wood, as inventors, filed Nov. 21, 2006, which is currently co-pending,or is an application of which a currently co-pending application isentitled to the benefit of the filing date.

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/726,706 entitled ACTUATABLE CUSHIONING ELEMENTS,naming Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Cameron A. Myhrvold, ConorL. Myhrvold, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H.Wood, as inventors, filed Mar. 21, 2007, which is currently co-pending,or is an application of which a currently co-pending application isentitled to the benefit of the filing date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit ofPrior-Filed application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003, availableat http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm.The present applicant entity has provided above a specific reference tothe application(s) from which priority is being claimed as recited bystatute. Applicant entity understands that the statute is unambiguous inits specific reference language and does not require either a serialnumber or any characterization, such as “continuation” or“continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S. patentapplications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicant entityunderstands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entryrequirements, and hence applicant entity is designating the presentapplication as a continuation-in-part of its parent applications as setforth above, but expressly points out that such designations are not tobe construed in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as towhether or not the present application contains any new matter inaddition to the matter of its parent application(s).

All subject matter of the Related Applications and of any and allparent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the RelatedApplications is incorporated herein by reference to the extent that suchsubject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

SUMMARY

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to: determining an event; actuating acushioning element in response to the determining the event, thecushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members; anddissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision basedon deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during thecollision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. In additionto the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a computer program product. In oneimplementation, the computer program product includes but is not limitedto a signal bearing medium bearing one or more instructions fordetermining an event; the signal bearing medium also bearing one or moreinstructions for actuating a cushioning element in response to thedetermining the event, the cushioning element including one or moretension-bearing members; and the signal bearing medium bearing one ormore instructions for providing control sufficient to cause dissipationof at least some of an energy associated with a collision based ondeforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during thecollision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. In additionto the foregoing, other computer program product aspects are describedin the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the presentdisclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to: a computing device, and one or moreinstructions that when executed on the computing device cause thecomputing device to: determine an event; actuate a cushioning element inresponse to the determining the event, the cushioning element includingone or more tension-bearing members; and provide control sufficient todissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision basedon deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during thecollision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. In additionto the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides an apparatus. In one implementation, theapparatus includes but is not limited to: a cushioning element, thecushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members, atleast one of the one or more tension-bearing members configured todeform in response to a collision or impact, including the at least oneof the one or more tension-bearing members being configured tosubstantially inelastically deform after reaching an elastic limitduring a deformation. In addition to the foregoing, other apparatusaspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to constructing a cushioning elementincluding one or more tension-bearing members, at least one of the oneor more tension-bearing members being configured to stretch during acollision, including being configured to stretch beyond an elasticlimit, to dissipate at least some of a kinetic energy associated withthe collision. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent disclosure.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject matter described herein will become apparent in theteachings set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which embodiments may beimplemented.

FIG. 2 illustrates an actuatable cushioning element according to anexample embodiment.

FIG. 3A illustrates an actuatable cushioning element according toanother example embodiment.

FIG. 3B illustrates an actuatable cushioning element of FIG. 3A in apost-collision state according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an actuatable energydissipative cushioning element according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a tension-bearing member according toan example embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a tension-bearing member according toanother example embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to actuatable energy dissipative cushioning elements accordingto an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 15 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 6.

FIG. 17 illustrates a partial view of an example computer programproduct 1700.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example system 1800.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example apparatus 1900 in which embodiments maybe implemented.

FIG. 20 also illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleapparatus 1900.

FIG. 21 illustrates an operational flow 2100 representing exampleoperations related to cushioning elements.

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 in which embodiments may beimplemented. System 100 may include, for example, a container 110, whichmay be any type of container, such as a box, a container for shippingcargo on a vehicle, boat, plane, train or other vehicle, a container forshipping or storing small or large items, a container for shippingfragile items, or any other container. Container 110 may be made fromany suitable material, such as cardboard, plastic, steel, etc., as a fewexample materials, but any type of material may be used.

System 100 may also include one or more actuatable cushioning elementsprovided within container 110, such as actuatable cushioning elements114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140,142, 144, 146, etc. The actuatable cushioning elements may providecushioning support for an item or object, such as object 112, forexample. Object 112 may be any type of object, such as electronics,books, food items, a vehicle (e.g., automobile, boat, train, plane),cargo, fragile or delicate or breakable items which may be in need ofcushioning support, people, animals, other organisms, or any other typeof object. These are just a few examples of an object which may besupported by actuatable cushioning elements, and the various embodimentsare not limited thereto. Actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116, etc.may spread a force or interaction of an object over a period of time orover an area within container 110, which may, at least in some cases,decrease potential impact and/or damage to the object, for example.

For example, one or more actuatable cushioning elements may be actuated(e.g., expanded) in response to an event to protect an object orpassenger from damage or harm or collision effects. Also, for example,one or more actuatable cushioning elements may be actuated based uponone or more sensed values in accordance with a model of one or moreobjects to be protected, the actuatable cushioning elements, and theenvironment. Also, for example, one or more actuatable cushioningelements may be actuated over a series of events or in response to aseries of events to provide a coordinated protection of one or moreobjects or passengers in a vehicle from harm, damage or other effectsfrom a collision, acceleration or other event. The protection of one ormore objects may be based upon a harm function of the actual orpredicted damage to subsets or portions of such objects, such as amaximum value, a weighted value, a cumulative value, or other suchfunctions. The harm function may include damage to the environment(e.g., pedestrians or other vehicles in a vehicular collision, highervalued objects in the vicinity of a container collision, etc.) as wellas to the one or more nominally protected objects. These are merely afew illustrative examples and the disclosure is not limited thereto.Additional details and example embodiments are described herein.

Actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116, etc. may be in either anexpanded state, such as shown for actuatable cushioning element 116, oran unexpanded state such as for actuatable cushioning element 114, forexample. Or an actuatable cushioning element may also be partiallyexpanded or partially unexpanded, for example.

In an example embodiment, some types of actuatable cushioning elementsmay be provided in an expanded state (e.g., inflated) for a limitedperiod of time. For example, one or more actuatable cushioning elementsmay be actuated (e.g., expanded or unexpanded) in response to an event.In an example embodiment, a subset of actuatable cushioning elements maybe actuated in response to an event. In another example embodiment, oneor more actuatable cushioning elements may be expanded just prior toshipment and may remain in an expanded state for an extended period oftime, or for a duration of transport, for example. In an exampleembodiment, an actuatable cushioning element may provide greatercushioning support for an object while in an expanded state, as comparedto an unexpanded state (e.g., due to a greater volume of flexible orcushioning material or matter to absorb an impact). This is merely anexample embodiment, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

One or more of the actuatable cushioning elements may be actuated, whichmay include putting an actuatable cushioning element into motion oraction. Actuation may include, for example, expanding an actuatablecushioning element from an unexpanded state to an expanded state (e.g.,causing an element to expand or increase in size), or unexpanding anactuatable cushioning element from an expanded state to an unexpandedstate (e.g., causing an element to shrink or reduce in size orcontract), as examples. Actuation may include, for example, causing anairbag or other entity to inflate or deflate. Actuation may include, forexample, changing or controlling the shape of an actuatable cushioningelement. Actuation may also include partial motions or partial actions,such as partially expanding or partially unexpanding an actuatablecushioning element, for example.

Actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116, etc. may include any type ofexpandable element. For example, actuatable cushioning elements 114,116, etc., may include expandable gas bags which may expand based on theapplication of pressurized gas to the bag similar to the airbags used inautomobiles and other vehicles. Actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116,etc. may alternatively include a fluid-expandable bag or entity that maybe expanded by fluid. For example, actuatable cushioning elements 114,116, etc., may include fluid-actuatable elements, where fluid may besourced from one or more fluid reservoirs, e.g., via a valvingactuation. The fluid reservoirs may, for example, cause the fluidactuatable elements to actuate (e.g., expand and/or unexpand/contract)by causing fluid to flow into or out of the fluid-actuatable elements.For example, actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116, etc., may includemagnetic field-actuatable elements, where magnetic field may be sourcedfrom one or more electric energy sources, e.g., via a capacitor, aninductor, a flux generator, or other means. The electric energy sourcesmay, for example, cause the magnetic field actuatable elements toactuate (e.g., expand and/or unexpand/contract) by causing magneticfields to apply force to the fluid-actuatable elements. Actuatablecushioning elements 114, 116, etc. alternatively may include anexpandable cushioning material which may expand (or unexpand), forexample, through the application of a chemical, gas, liquid, electricalenergy, reaction force or other energy or material. Electrical energymay, for example be used to expand (or unexpand) or shape an expandablecushioning material by means of an electric motor, a linearelectromagnetic motor, a piezoelectric actuator, or other means.Reaction force may, for example be used to expand (or unexpand) or shapean expandable cushioning material by means of a rocket engine, a pulsedmicroimpulse reaction engine, a magnetic repulsion coil, or other means.Expandable cushioning material may apply cushioning force by means ofpressure, electric/magnetic fields, inertia, compressive stress, tensileforce, or shear force, or a combination thereof. Expandable cushioningmaterial may apply cushioning force and/or dissipate interaction energyby means of crushing (e.g., foam or shells), breaking (e.g., fibers orwires), buckling (e.g., struts or plates) or other mechanisms.

In an example embodiment, the actuatable cushioning elements may bere-usable, where the cushioning elements may be expanded to absorb animpact, later fully or partially unexpanded, and then subsequentlyexpanded again to provide cushioning support or protect the object for asecond event or impact, or to provide cushioning support in anothercontainer, for example. While in another example embodiment, theactuatable cushioning elements may be disposable, wherein the elements,for example, may be expanded or used only once or only a few times.

Any number of actuatable cushioning elements may be used to providecushioning support for object 112. For example, in one embodiment, atleast 12 actuatable cushioning elements may be used to providecushioning support for an object. This may include providing at least12, 20, 50, 100 or even 500 actuatable cushioning elements (or more) toprovide cushioning support, according to different example embodiments.

The actuatable cushioning elements may be any shape (e.g., round,oblong, rectangular, irregular shape) and any size. In an exampleembodiment, one or more of actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116, etc.may be 2.5 cm in width or less in an unexpanded state, or may be 2.5 cmin width or more in an unexpanded state, or may be 5 cm or less in anunexpanded state, or may be 8 cm or less in an unexpanded state, asexamples. For example, different numbers and/or sizes of cushioningelements may be used, e.g., depending on the application, the type ofobject to be protected, the type or size of container to be used, orother factors. These are some example numbers and sizes and thedisclosure is not limited thereto. In an example embodiment,smaller-sized actuatable cushioning elements may be more applicable forsmaller containers, whereas larger actuatable cushioning elements may bemore applicable for larger containers, for example.

In another example embodiment, a group of actuatable cushioning elementsmay be provided within a container, or outside of the container, toprovide cushioning support for an object, such as a vase or other objectwithin the container. A first subset of actuatable cushioning elementsmay be pre-inflated or pre-expanded in response to a first event, e.g.,at packing time or just prior to shipment. At some later point, a secondsubset of actuatable cushioning elements may be actuated (e.g.,expanded), in response to a second event (such as an acceleration thatexceeds a threshold, or an impact or likely impact), for example. Atsome point later, a third subset of actuatable cushioning elements maybe actuated (e.g., inflated or expanded), in response to a third event,for example. Also, in an example embodiment, upon arrival (which may beconsidered a fourth event), one or more (or even all) of the actuatablecushioning elements in the container may be actuated (e.g., unexpandedor deflated), to allow the object to be unpacked from the container. Theactuatable cushioning elements may also be-reused in another container,for example. In this manner, the group of actuatable cushioning elementsmay provide cushioning support for an object, e.g., for one or moreevents.

Actuatable cushioning elements may be actuated outside of a container oroutside of the preactivation envelope of a system. For example, suchactuation may provide additional cushioning to that provided withinterior actuatable cushioning elements alone. For example, suchexterior actuation may also act by modification of the dynamics of theinteraction with the environment, such as by introducing slidingcontacts, aerodynamic lift, sideways steering forces, or by other means.For example, such exterior actuatable cushioning elements may havespherical shapes, cylindrical shapes, high aspect ratio shapes,lifting-body shapes, or other shapes. For example, exterior actuatablecushioning elements may include expandable gas bags, fluid actuatableelements, expandable cushioning materials, skids, reaction engines,drag-inducing devices, anchors, or other such elements. For example,such exterior actuatable cushioning elements may act in a time dependent(e.g., via a specified actuation profile, by stretching, deforming,breaking) and/or time sequenced manner (e.g., by timed activation of oneor more exterior actuatable cushioning elements).

According to an example embodiment, one or more actuatable cushioningelements may be actuated (e.g., expanded or unexpanded) for or inresponse to an event. The event may be any of a variety of differentevents. For example, the event may include determining an impact orlikely impact, determining an acceleration or change in accelerationthat exceeds a threshold (such as when a container has been dropped),determining a temperature (e.g., inside or outside the container) thatreaches a selected temperature, determining a time that reaches aspecific time, determining that a location has been reached or that aselected distance within the location has been reached (e.g., eitherapproaching or leaving the location), determining that a selected subsetof actuatable cushioning elements (e.g., some or all of the elements)have not yet been expanded (thus more elements should be expanded toprovide support), or other event. These are merely a few examples ofevents, e.g., events which may cause or result in one or more actuatablecushioning elements to be actuated.

According to an example embodiment, acceleration may include a scalarquantity, or may include a vector quantity. Acceleration may includelinear acceleration, angular acceleration, or other type ofacceleration. A detected or determined acceleration may include anacceleration having components with varying degrees of interest orrelevance (e.g., one or more linear components may be used, or one ormore angular components to indicate an event or events to triggeractuation of an actuatable cushioning element). For example, an eventmay include an acceleration or change in acceleration that may includean acceleration (e.g., one or more acceleration components) or a changein acceleration that may exceed a threshold. Alternatively, theacceleration may be determined in more complex manners, such as ad hoc,time and situation-dependent manners, or other manners. For example, amodel may be provided or used to model the operation of a system (e.g.,system 100), or model the operation of actuatable cushioning elements,or model the free-fall or acceleration or movement of one or moreobjects or passengers, or the like. For example, one or more actuatablecushioning elements may be actuated (e.g., expanded orunexpanded/contracted) based on the model and/or based on determinationof one or more events. For example, the selected actuation of one ormore actuatable cushioning elements may be based upon the predictedshift of the time profile of one or more accelerations from a valueassociated with one actuation state to another value corresponding tothe selected actuation state, the value of which is predicted to reducedamage to one or more protected objects. For example, measured andmodel-forecasted time-integrals of acceleration that may exceed casedependent thresholds may be used, e.g., to identify criteria or likelysituations where objects may be damaged or broken. In another exampleembodiment, a time-history of acceleration may, in some cases, informthe system 100 as to the level of protection that may or should be usedto protect the object. For example, an extended time-interval offree-fall may result in decelerations of significant magnitudes beingpurposefully applied to protect objects when, e.g., an event isdetected. For example, measured or model-forecasted stresses within theobject may be used, e.g., to identify criteria or likely situationswhere objects may be damaged or broken. Such stress thresholds mayinclude peak values or time-dependent value profiles of a function ofone or more elements of the stress tensor, or may include initiation orpropagation of fracture. For example, measured or model-forecastedtemperatures within the object may be used, e.g., to identify criteriaor likely situations where objects may be damaged or broken. Suchtemperature thresholds may include peak temperature values, or energydeposition values (e.g., a substance that will undergo a phasechange—e.g., liquid to gas—after accumulation of a certain energy, whichthose skilled in the art will appreciate is an example of a more generaldetermination that an energy exceeds a threshold), or time dependenttemperature profiles. These are merely a few additional exampleembodiments relating to acceleration, and the disclosure is not limitedthereto.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, in an example embodiment, system 100 mayinclude central control logic 150, including a central controller 154which may provide overall control for system 100. Central control logic150 may include a number of additional blocks coupled to centralcontroller 154, which will be briefly described.

A wireless receiver 152 may transmit and receive wireless signals suchas RF (radio frequency) signals. Wireless signals such as RF signals mayinclude any wireless or other electromagnetic signals, and are notlimited to any particular frequency range.

An event detector 158 may detect or determine an event (or condition),or a series of events, such as an acceleration or change in accelerationthat exceeds a threshold, a temperature that reaches a specifictemperature, a location that is within a specific distance of a selectedlocation, or any other event. Event detector 158 may include any type ofdetector or sensor. Event detector 158 may, for example, include anywell-known detector, instrument or device to detect an event orcondition. For example, a thermometer may detect a temperature. A GPS(Global Positioning System) receiver may determine that a specificlocation has been reached. An accelerometer may determine that anacceleration or change in acceleration has exceeded a threshold. Inanother example embodiment, event detector 158 may include a MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS) accelerometer, which may, for instance,sense a displacement of a micro-cantilevered beam under accelerationtransverse to its displacement-direction, e.g., by capacitive means. Anangular accelerometer may determine that an angular acceleration orchange in angular acceleration has exceeded a threshold. In anotherexample embodiment, event detector 158 may include a Ring Laser Gyro, aFiber Optic Gyro, a Vibrating Structure Gyro, a MEMS Gyro, or amechanical gyroscope.

Or, alternatively for event detector 158, electrodes may be placed on asuitably shaped and mounted piezoelectric material for sensing a currentand/or voltage generated by the piezoelectric material deforming inresponse to acceleration induced stress. Some examples of materials thatmay be used in the piezoelectric version of the event detector 158 mayinclude lead zirconate titanate (PZT), lead zincate niobate (PZN), leadzincate niobate lead-titanate (PZN-PT), lead magnesium niobatelead-titanate (PMN-PT), lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT), Nb/Tadoped PLZT, and Barium zirconate titanate (BZT). These are just a fewexamples of event detectors.

Event detector 158 may also, for example, include a GPS receiver, aspeedometer, an accelerometer, Radar, a camera, a Gyro, or any othersensor or device that may allow the detection of one or more of thefollowing: a relative location of a first object with respect to asecond object; a relative velocity of a first object with respect to asecond object; a relative acceleration of a first object with respect toa second object; a relative orientation of a first object with respectto a second object; a relative angular velocity of a first object withrespect to a second object; or a relative angular acceleration of afirst object with respect to a second object. The first and secondobjects in this example may be any type of objects. For example, thedetected event or information (e.g., relative location, velocity,acceleration, orientation, angular velocity, angular acceleration) mayindicate that a collision between a first object (such as a vehicle) anda second object (e.g., another vehicle, a tree, a railing . . . ) hasoccurred or is likely to occur.

An enable/disable switch 156 may be used to enable or disable system100. For example, enable/disable switch 156 may be used to enable theone or more actuatable cushioning elements to be actuated, or maydisable the one or more actuatable cushioning elements from beingactuated, for example. System 100 may also include an input device, suchas a mouse, keypad or other input device, which may allow a user toconfigure operation of system 100, for example. For example,enable/disable switch 156 and/or input device 160 may enable a firstsubset of actuatable cushioning elements to be actuatable during a firsttime period (or first time interval), and may enable a second subset ofactuatable cushioning elements to be actuatable during a second timeperiod (or second time interval), e.g., to provide cushioning supportfor an object over (or for) a series of events. The phrase “time period”may, for example, include any time interval, and is not necessarilycyclical or periodic, and may include random, non-periodic and/ornon-cyclical time periods or time intervals, as examples.

An output device or display 161 may also be provided to displayinformation. Input device 160 and display 161 may be provided in aposition which may be reached or accessed by a user, such as on theoutside of the container 110, for example.

One or more of the actuatable cushioning elements may include an elementcontrol logic to control overall operation and/or actuation of theelement(s) to which the control logic is connected. For example, elementcontrol logic 115 may provide control to actuatable cushioning element114, while element control logic 117 may control operation of actuatablecushioning element 116.

An element control logic may control a single actuatable cushioningelement, or may control multiple cushioning elements, for example. Theelement control logic for one or more actuatable cushioning elements maycommunicate with other element control logic to provide a cushioningsupport for object 112 in a coordinated manner, for example. Accordingto an example embodiment, this may include an element control logictransmitting a wireless signal(s) when the associated actuatablecushioning element has been actuated (or otherwise an element controllogic for an element transmitting a signal notifying other elements ofthe cushioning element's state) which may allow the element controllogic associated with other actuatable cushioning elements to determinehow many or what percentage of cushioning elements are in an expandedstate. For example, if an insufficient number of cushioning elements arecurrently in an expanded state, then one or more actuatable cushioningelements (via their element control logic) may then actuate or move toan expanded state to improve cushioning support for the object. Thus,distributed control may be provided via communication between theelement control logic for different actuatable cushioning elements.

In another example embodiment, central controller 154 (FIG. 1) ofcentral control logic 150 may provide central control for operation ofthe one or more actuatable cushioning elements within container 110. Forexample, event detector 158 may detect an event, and then wirelesstransceiver 152 (e.g., under control of central controller 154) maytransmit wireless signals to one or more element control logic (e.g.,115, 117, . . . ) to cause one or more actuatable cushioning elements toactuate in response to the event.

FIG. 2 illustrates an actuatable cushioning element according to anexample embodiment. An actuatable cushioning element 210 may be coupledto (or may include) an associated element control logic 212. Althoughnot shown, one or more of the actuatable cushioning elements (e.g.,actuatable cushioning elements 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, . . . ) mayeach include a similar element control logic. For example, elementcontrol logic 115 and 117 may be the same as or similar to elementcontrol logic 212, for example. In an alternative embodiment, elementcontrol logic 212 may be omitted.

Element control logic 212 may include an element controller 214 toprovide overall control for an actuatable cushioning element 210. Anevent detector 218 may detect or determine an event. Event detector 218may be, for example, the same as or similar to the event detector 158. Awireless transceiver 216 may transmit and receive wireless signals.Alternatively, actuatable cushioning elements may be coupled together(and/or to central control logic 150) via any communications media, suchas a wireless media (e.g., via RF or other electromagnetic signals,acoustic signals), a wired communication media, such as cable, wire,fiber optic line, etc., or other media.

A stored energy reservoir 220 may store gas, liquid, energy (chemical orelectrical energy or the like) or other energy or substance, which maybe used to actuate actuatable cushioning element 210. For example,stored energy reservoir 220 may receive signals from element controller214, causing stored energy reservoir 220 to release pressurized liquidor gas to actuatable cushioning element 210 to cause element 210 toexpand or inflate, or may release a chemical or other substance causingan expandable cushioning material to expand, for example. In an exampleembodiment, actuatable cushioning element 210 may include one or morefluid-actuatable elements, where fluid may be sourced from one or morefluid reservoirs (such as from stored energy reservoir 220), e.g., via avalving actuation. The fluid reservoirs may, for example, cause thefluid actuatable element(s) to actuate (e.g., expand and/orunexpand/contract) by causing fluid to flow into or out of thefluid-actuatable elements.

One or more actuatable cushioning elements, such as actuatablecushioning element 210, may be coupled to an element controller (e.g.,element controller 214) via any communications media, such as a wirelessmedia (e.g., via RF or other electromagnetic signals, acoustic signals),a wired communication media, such as cable, wire, fiber optic line,etc., or other communications media.

According to an example embodiment, one or more actuatable cushioningelements may include fluid-actuated cushioning elements or structures,or may include gas-actuated or gas-powered cushioning elements, or othertypes of elements. For example, one or more of the actuatable cushioningelements, when actuated, may have at least one of a size, shape,position, orientation, stress-strain tensor components (or othercomponent) of the cushioning elements changed or modified as a result ofone or more actuating actions applied to the cushioning element. Forexample, an actuating action or sequence of actuating actions which maybe applied to an actuatable cushioning element, may, e.g., first changeits position (or center of mass), then its orientation, then its size,and/or its rigidity or other characteristic. These changes to theactuatable cushioning element may occur, e.g., in a pre-programmedmanner, and may occur, e.g., in response to or based upon an event, suchas based on a measurement, signals received from cooperating cushioningelements or a controller(s) in the system 100, or other signals orcriteria or event. The signals that may be received from othercooperating structures (e.g., elements or controllers) may, for example,describe or indicate their own characteristics, such as size, pressure,orientation, shape, etc. A model (e.g., of the system or operation ofthe system or objects) may be used to determine one or more actions thatmay be performed (such as actuation of an element), e.g., to protect oneor more objects or passengers from harm or damage.

Also, in another example embodiment, one or more objects or passengersmay include one or more associated actuatable cushioning elements on ornear each object or passenger, where one or more of the group ofassociated actuatable cushioning elements may be independentlycontrolled so as to provide cushioning support and/or protection for theassociated object or passenger. Also, in another example embodiment, twoor more separate objects, each protected by their own sets of actuatablecushioning elements may interact (for instance, by an actual orpredicted collision). The actuation of one or more object's actuatablecushioning elements may occur with or without cooperation from that ofthe actuatable cushioning elements of one or more of the other objects.For example, one or more of the objects may sense the actions or stateof the actuatable cushioning elements associated with one or more of theother objects. For example, two or more of the objects may shareinformation on the actual and/or planned actuation histories of theiractuatable cushioning elements. For example, one or more of the objectsmay sense the actions or state of the actuatable cushioning elementsassociated with one or more of the other objects. For example, one ormore objects may base the actuation of one or more of its actuatablecushioning elements upon the sensed or predicted actions of one or moreactuatable cushioning elements associated with one or more of the otherobjects. For example, one or more objects may command the actuation ornonactuation of one or more actuatable cushioning elements associatedwith one or more of the other objects. This commanded actuation processmay be performed by a joint decision process, by a hierarchical process,by a master-slave process, or by other means.

In an example embodiment, the actuatable cushioning element may includeone or more tension-bearing members 230, such as tension bearing members230A, 230B, 230C, 230D and 230E. Tension-bearing members 230 may, forexample, bear tension or force, and may deform in one or more ways,and/or may stretch, e.g., during a collision or impact to dissipateenergy associated with a collision and/or provide cushioning support foran object. The tension-bearing members 230 may be provided in a numberof different directions, and may, for example, lie on a surface (e.g.,interior or exterior surface) of the cushioning element 210.Alternatively, one or more of the tension-bearing members 230 may beprovided within an interior portion of the cushioning element 210.

In an example embodiment, one or more of the tension-bearing members 230may deform during a collision between two objects. This deformation ofone or more of the tension-bearing members 230 may include, for example,stretching of the tension-bearing member(s). The deforming orstretching, may include, for example, at least a portion of one or moretension-bearing members substantially inelastically stretching after thetension-bearing member has reached an elastic limit.

In an example embodiment, the actuatable cushioning element 210 maydissipate at least some of an energy (e.g., kinetic energy) associatedwith a collision based on a deforming or stretching of one or more ofthe tension-bearing members 230. For example, during a collision, atleast one tension-bearing member that extends in a direction other thana direction of impact of the collision may stretch beyond an elasticlimit, and dissipate at least some of an energy associated with thecollision. For example, a tension-bearing member that extends in adirection that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of impactof the collision may stretch or deform during the collision to dissipateenergy or provide cushioning support for an object.

By stretching or deforming, the tension-bearing members 230 may performwork or have work performed on them, allowing the dissipation of atleast some energy associated with a collision. In this manner, thecushioning element 210 and associated tension-bearing member(s) 230 may,for example, provide cushioning support during a collision for an objector objects, such as a vehicle, person, or other object.

The tension-bearing members may be made of a variety of differentmaterials, and may, for example, have a relatively high tensile strengthand/or a high strength to weight ratio. In an example embodiment,tension-bearing members may be provided as one or more polyaramid fibers(also known as aramid or aromatic polyamide fibers). Polyaramid fibersmay be a class of heat-resistant and high-strength synthetic fibers,such as for example, fibers in which the fiber-forming substance may bea long-chain synthetic polyamide in which at least some of the amidelinkages (—CO—NH—) are attached directly to two aromatic rings.Polyaramid fibers have been manufactured under a number of differentbrand names, and have been used in a number of different aerospace andmilitary applications, such as ballistic rated body armor, for example.

Polyaramid fiber(s) are merely one example of a tension-bearing member.Tension bearing members 230 may be made from other material (e.g., whichmay have relatively high tensile strength) that may perform work (or mayallow work to be performed on the fiber or member), e.g., throughstretching or deforming, or otherwise may provide cushioning ordissipation of energy associated with a collision or other impact. Yetmore specific instances of such materials might include at least one ofa graphitic fiber, a carbon fiber, and/or a natural fiber. Yet morespecific instances of such material might also include at least one of apoly-benzobisoxazole fiber and/or a synthetic fiber. In some instancesof such materials, the various fiber types referred to herein arehybridized and/or combined.

FIG. 3A illustrates an actuatable cushioning element according toanother example embodiment. Actuatable cushioning element 210A is shownin an initial or pre-collision state. Actuatable cushioning element 210Amay include one or more tension-bearing members, includingtension-bearing members 230A, 230B, 230C, 230C, 230D and/or 230E. In anexample embodiment, a controller, such as central controller 154 orelement controller 214 may control or cause the actuation of theactuatable cushioning element into an initial or pre-collision state(e.g., in response to detecting or determining an event). A direction ofimpact 239 of a collision is shown. Tension-bearing members 230A and230B, at least in part, may be considered to extend in a direction thatmay be substantially in a direction of the impact of collision 239.Other tension-bearing members may extend in other directions. Forexample, tension-bearing members 230C, 230D and 230E may be consideredto extend in directions other than the direction of impact of thecollision 239. For example, one or more tension-bearing members, such astension-bearing member 230E, may extend in a direction that may beapproximately (or substantially) perpendicular to the direction ofimpact of the collision 239.

FIG. 3B illustrates an actuatable cushioning element of FIG. 3A in apost-collision state according to an example embodiment. In an exampleembodiment, during a collision between two objects, the actuatablecushioning element 210 may provide cushioning support for an object (notshown) or dissipate energy associated with the collision via a deformingor stretching of one or more of the tension-bearing members. Forexample, tension-bearing members 230C, 230D and 230E may deform orstretch during a collision and dissipate energy associated with acollision.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an actuatable energydissipative cushioning element according to an example embodiment. Twoobjects are shown in FIG. 4, including vehicle 410 and vehicle 420,although any type of objects may be used. Vehicle 410 may include anactuatable cushioning element 210 that includes one or moretension-bearing members 230. An element control logic 212 may be coupledto the actuatable cushioning element. Event detector 218 of elementcontrol logic 212 (FIG. 2) may determine or detect an event, and elementcontroller or central controller 154 may actuate and/or otherwisecontrol actuatable cushioning element 210 and/or tension-bearing members230 to dissipate energy associated with a collision between vehicle 410and vehicle 420. Event detector 218 and/or element control logic 212 maydetect or determine a number of different events, and may then actuateor deploy the actuatable cushioning element 210. Actuatable cushioningelement 210 is shown as being provided outside of vehicle 410, but maybe located anywhere, such as inside a cabin or driver's space of vehicle410, for example.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a tension-bearing member according toan example embodiment. In an example embodiment, a tension-bearingmember 230 may stretch or deform during a collision to dissipate some ofthe kinetic energy associated with a collision. This may be performedby, for example, at least in part converting some of the kinetic energyassociated with the collision into thermal energy. In an exampleembodiment, tension-bearing member 230 may include a heat capacitymaterial 512 associated with the tension-bearing member 230 to absorb atleast some of the thermal energy associated with the collision, or toincrease a capacity of the tension-bearing member 230 to perform work orto increase a capacity to have work done on the tension-bearing member230.

For example, the heat capacity material may increase the temperature atwhich the tension-bearing member fails or breaks, thereby, at least insome cases increasing the capacity of the tension-bearing member 230 toperform work or stretch during a collision. This may, for example,increase an amount of kinetic energy that the actuatable cushioningelement may dissipate during a collision between two objects.

Although not required, in an example embodiment, heat capacity material512 may use (or may include) a phase-change material that may changephases (e.g., solid-to-liquid, liquid-to-gas, solid-to-gas) while thetension-bearing member is performing work or is stretching or deforming,which may, for example, increase the amount of kinetic energy that thecushioning element may dissipate. This may include, for example, aliquid or other heat capacity material boiling or changing from liquidto gas to dissipate additional energy associated with the collision. Forexample, water may be used to cool or decrease the temperature of thetension-bearing member during a collision. Thus, using a tension-bearingmember having a heat capacity material may increase the temperature atwhich the tension-bearing member may fail or no longer be able toperform work. Thus, heat capacity material or phase change material maybe used to increase or enhance mechanical performance of the tensionbearing member 230, for example.

In one example embodiment, if phase change is used, the phase change ofthe heat capacity material may, for example, occur at temperatures thatmay be well above ordinary environmental temperatures, e.g., greaterthan 50 degrees Centigrade (50° C.), and may be (for example) less than300° C. or 400° C. These are merely some examples, and a number ofdifferent temperatures may be used for phase change.

The heat capacity material 512 may, for example, be provided on asurface of the tension bearing member 230, or may be provided within oneor more fibers of the tension-bearing member. These are merely someexamples.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a tension-bearing member according toanother example embodiment. In this example, a capsule 514 may beprovided with heat capacity material therein. For example, when thetemperature a threshold temperature, the capsule 514 may melt orrupture, causing the heat capacity material to be released and appliedto the tension-bearing member 230. The application of heat capacitymaterial (for example, water or other material) may operate to cool thetension-bearing member 230 and/or increase the work capacity of thetension-bearing member 230.

A wide variety of materials may be used for a heat capacity material512, or a phase change material. According to an example embodiment,heat capacity materials may, include one or more qualities, such as:

-   -   a. non-toxic (as people or objects may come into contact with        the material);    -   b. non-corrosive to its storage environment (e.g., since the        material may be in contact with the tension-bearing member or        the actuatable cushioning element 210); for example, during        storage, the material may be non-corrosive for long periods of        time, and during operation or at higher temperatures the        material may be non-corrosive for shorter periods of time.    -   c. a comparatively high heat of transformation (e.g., relatively        high temperature for boiling or vaporization, fusion), e.g., so        that relatively little material may be used to increase the work        capacity of the tension bearing member    -   d. can be readily brought into contact (either in advance or in        response to an event, or based on a temperature change, etc.)        with high-tensility material (tension-bearing member 230) being        worked or deformed during a collision;    -   e. reasonable cost, e.g., sufficient quantities of the heat        capacity material would not necessarily dominate the cost of the        cushioning element or tension bearing member.

An example of a heat capacity material may be water, although many othermaterials may be used. The tension-bearing member (e.g., polyaramidfibers) may be soaked in water (or other material), which may increasethe amount of work that the tension bearing member may perform, forexample. Or, the water, as it is heated and boils or vaporizes,increases the work that may be performed on or by the associatedtension-bearing member. As noted, the heat capacity material may usephase change in an example embodiments. In other example embodiments,heat capacity materials may be used that may improve the work capacityof the tension bearing member without necessarily involving a phasechange or phase change material.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operational flow 600 representing exampleoperations related to actuatable energy dissipative cushioning elements.In FIG. 6 and in following figures that include various examples ofoperational flows, discussion and explanation may be provided withrespect to the above-described examples of FIGS. 1-5, and/or withrespect to other examples and contexts. However, it should be understoodthat the operational flows may be executed in a number of otherenvironments and contexts, and/or in modified versions of FIGS. 1-5.Also, although the various operational flows are presented in thesequence(s) illustrated, it should be understood that the variousoperations may be performed in other orders than those which areillustrated, or may be performed concurrently.

After a start operation, the operational flow 600 moves to a determiningoperation 610 where an event is determined. For example, an eventdetector 158 or 218 may detect or determine an event (or condition), ora series of events, such as a velocity that exceeds a threshold, anacceleration that exceeds a threshold, a change in acceleration orchange in location or velocity, a relative location, velocity oracceleration of an object with respect to another object that is withina range or exceeds a threshold, etc. These are merely a few examples ofevents that may be detected, and many other events are possible.

Event detector 158 or 218 may include any type of detector or sensor.Event detector 158 may, for example, include any well-known detector,instrument or device to detect an event or condition. For example, athermometer may detect a temperature. A GPS (Global Positioning System)receiver may determine that a specific location has been reached. Anaccelerometer may determine that an acceleration or change inacceleration has exceeded a threshold, for example. In another exampleembodiment, event detector 158 may include a Micro Electro MechanicalSystem (MEMS) accelerometer.

Event detector 158 and/or 218 may also, for example, include aspeedometer, an accelerometer, Radar, a camera, a Gyro, or any othersensor, instrument or device that may allow the detection ordetermination of one or more of a variety of conditions or events, suchas determining, for example: a relative location of a first object withrespect to a second object; a relative velocity of a first object withrespect to a second object; a relative acceleration of a first objectwith respect to a second object; a relative orientation of a firstobject with respect to a second object; a relative angular velocity of afirst object with respect to a second object; or a relative angularacceleration of a first object with respect to a second object. Theseare merely some additional example events, and many other types ofevents may be detected or determined. The first and second objects inthis example may be any type of objects.

Then, in an actuating operation 620, a cushioning element is actuated inresponse to the determining the event, the cushioning element includingone or more tension-bearing members. For example, as shown in FIG. 2,element controller 214 may actuate actuatable cushioning element 210 inresponse to event detector 218 determining the event. This actuating mayinclude element controller 214 or central controller 154 deploying orplacing the actuatable cushioning element 210 in an initial orpre-collision state, for example. Actuatable cushioning element 210(FIG. 2) may include one or more tension-bearing members 230 (e.g.,230A, 230B, 230C, 230D, 230E, . . . ).

Then, in a dissipating operation 630, at least some of an energyassociated with a collision is dissipated based on deforming at leastone of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deformingincluding substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of thetension-bearing members. For example, at least some of the energyassociated with a collision between two objects (e.g., between vehicles410 and 420, FIG. 4) may be dissipated by a tension-bearing member 230deforming and/or stretching during the collision. The deforming orstretching may include the tension-bearing member 230 stretching beyondan elastic limit for the tension-bearing member 230.

FIG. 7 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 610 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 702, 704, 706, 708 and/or710

At the operation 702, a pre-collision event is determined. For example,event detector 158 or 218 may determine or detect an event that occursprior to a collision between two objects. For example, event detector158 or 218 may detect that acceleration or velocity for a vehicle hasexceeded a specific threshold, or that based on a vehicle's relativelocation and/or relative velocity with respect to another object (e.g.,with respect to a rail, a wall, or another vehicle), a collision islikely to occur between a vehicle and another object.

At the operation 704, it is determined that an object has reached aspecific location. For example, event detector 158 or 218 (e.g., as aGPS receiver or other location device) may determine that an automobileor vehicle is within 2 feet of a wall or other object, or has crossedover a median of a highway.

At the operation 706, it is determined that a collision has occurred.Event detector 158 or 218 may have detected a collision or impact basedon other sensors on a vehicle 410, for example.

At the operation 708, a change in acceleration that exceeds a thresholdis determined. For example, event detector 158 or 218 (e.g., as anaccelerometer) may determine that an acceleration for vehicle 410 hasexceeded a threshold (e.g., 0.2G).

At operation 710, it is determined that a collision between two objectsis likely to occur. For example, event detector 158 or 218 (e.g., as GPSreceiver or other sensor or instrument) and with controller 154 or 214,may determine, e.g., based on a location and/or velocity of a vehicle410 with respect to another object (either fixed or moving) that acollision is likely to occur.

FIG. 8 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 610 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 802, 804, 806, and/or 808.

At the operation 802, it is determined that a collision between twoobjects is likely to occur based on at least a relative location of thetwo objects. For example, event detector 158 or 218, and operating withcontroller 154 or 214, within vehicle 410 may determine that a collisionwith vehicle 510 is likely to occur based on the relative location ofvehicle 410 to vehicle 420 (e.g., based on the distance between the twovehicles).

At the operation 804, it is determined that a collision between twoobjects is likely to occur based on a relative location and a relativeorientation of the two objects. For example, controller 154 or 214 andevent detector 158 or 218 may determine that vehicles 410 and 420 arewithin 5 feet of each other and are facing each other, and thus, acollision may be likely to occur.

At the operation 806, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on at least arelative location and a relative velocity of the first object withrespect to the second object. For example, controller 154 or 214 andevent detector 158 or 218 may determine that vehicle 410 is 10 feet awayfrom vehicle 420, and the two vehicles are heading directly toward eachother at a total speed (sum of speeds of both vehicles) of 87 MPH (milesper hour), which may indicate that a collision is likely to occur.

At the operation 808, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on at least arelative location, a relative velocity, and a relative acceleration ofthe first object with respect to the second object. For example,controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218 within a vehicle 410(FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between a vehicle 410 andvehicle 420 is likely to occur based on at least a relative location, arelative velocity, and a relative acceleration of vehicle 410 withrespect to vehicle 420.

FIG. 9 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 610 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 902 and/or 904.

At the operation 902, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on at least arelative location, a relative velocity, a relative orientation, and arelative angular velocity of the first object with respect to the secondobject. For example, controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218within a vehicle 410 (FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between avehicle 410 and vehicle 420 is likely to occur based on at least arelative location, a relative velocity, a relative orientation, and arelative angular velocity of vehicle 410 with respect to vehicle 420(FIG. 4).

At the operation 904, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on at least arelative acceleration and an angular acceleration of the first objectwith respect to the second object. For example, controller 154 or 214and event detector 158 or 218 within a vehicle 410 (FIG. 4) maydetermine that a collision between a vehicle 410 and vehicle 420 islikely to occur based on at least a relative acceleration and an angularacceleration of vehicle 410 with respect to vehicle 420 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 10 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 10 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 610 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 1002.

At the operation 1002, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on at least one of arelative location of the first object with respect to the second object,a relative velocity of the first object with respect to the secondobject, a relative acceleration of the first object with respect to thesecond object, a relative orientation of the first object with respectto the second object, a relative angular velocity of the first objectwith respect to the second object, or a relative angular acceleration ofthe first object with respect to the second object. For example,controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218 within a vehicle 410(FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between a vehicle 410 andvehicle 420 is likely to occur based on at least one of a relativelocation, relative velocity, relative acceleration, a relativeorientation, a relative angular velocity, or a relative angularacceleration of vehicle 410 with respect to vehicle 420 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 11 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 11 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 610 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 1102, 1104 and/or 1106.

At the operation 1102, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on a relativevelocity of the first object with respect to the second object. Forexample, controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218 within avehicle 410 (FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between a vehicle410 and vehicle 420 is likely to occur based on a relative velocity ofvehicle 410 with respect to the velocity of vehicle 420.

At the operation 1104, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on a relativeacceleration of the first object with respect to the second object. Forexample, controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218 within avehicle 410 (FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between a vehicle410 and vehicle 420 is likely to occur based on a relative accelerationof vehicle 410 with respect to the acceleration of vehicle 420.

At the operation 1106, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on a relativeorientation of the first object with respect to the second object. Forexample, controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218 within avehicle 410 (FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between a vehicle410 and vehicle 510 is likely to occur based on a relative orientationof vehicle 410 with respect to the acceleration and/or orientation ofvehicle 420.

FIG. 12 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 12 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 610 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 1202 and/or 1204.

At the operation 1202, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on a relativeangular velocity of the first object with respect to the second object.For example, controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218 withina vehicle 410 (FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between a vehicle410 and vehicle 420 is likely to occur based on a relative angularvelocity of vehicle 410 with respect to the angular velocity of vehicle420.

At the operation 1204, it is determined that a collision between a firstobject and a second object is likely to occur based on a relativeangular acceleration of the first object with respect to the secondobject. For example, controller 154 or 214 and event detector 158 or 218within a vehicle 410 (FIG. 4) may determine that a collision between avehicle 410 and vehicle 420 is likely to occur based on a relativeangular acceleration of vehicle 410 with respect to the acceleration ofvehicle 420.

FIG. 13 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 13 illustrates example embodiments where theactuating operation 620 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 1302 and/or 1304.

At the operation 1302, the cushioning element is expanded to place theone or more tension-bearing members in an initial state. For example,under operation of element controller 214, stored energy reservoir 220(FIG. 2) may expand actuatable cushioning element 210 to place one ormore tension bearing members 230 in an initial (e.g., pre-collision)state. An initial state may, for example, place the tension-bearingmembers in a position or state where they may be prepared to dissipateenergy or perform work during a collision, e.g., by deforming orstretching. This is merely an example initial state, and other initialstates may be used.

At the operation 1304, an inflatable gas bag is inflated to place theone or more tension-bearing members in an initial state. For example,under operation of element controller 214, stored energy reservoir 220(FIG. 2) may pump gas to inflate actuatable cushioning element 210 or agas bag to place one or more tension bearing members 230 in an initialstate.

FIG. 14 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 14 illustrates example embodiments where thedissipating operation 630 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 1402 and/or 1404.

At the operation 1402, at least some of an energy associated with acollision is dissipated based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming includingsubstantially inelastically stretching the at least one of thetension-bearing members after the at least one of the tension bearingmembers reaches an elastic limit to convert at least some of a kineticenergy associated with the collision to thermal energy. For example, atleast some of the energy associated with a collision between vehicles410 and 420 may be dissipated based on deforming tension-bearing members230C, 230D and 230E (FIG. 3B) during the collision. This deforming mayinclude inelastically stretching tension-bearing members 230C, 230Dand/or 230E beyond an elastic limit to convert at least some of akinetic energy associated with the collision to thermal energy.

At the operation 1404, at least some of an energy associated with acollision is dissipated based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming includingsubstantially inelastically stretching during a collision at least oneof the tension-bearing members that extend in a direction other than adirection of impact of the collision. For example, at least some of theenergy associated with a collision between vehicles 410 and 420 may bedissipated based on deforming and inelastically stretching during thecollision one or more of tension-bearing members 230C, 230D and 230E,which may extend in a direction other than a direction of impact of thecollision 239 (FIG. 3B).

For example, a portion of the actuatable cushioning element 210receiving the impact (e.g., along a direction of impact of collision)may become shorter or smaller, which may cause the corresponding tensionbearing members 230A and 230B that extend along the direction of impactto go loose or slack during the collision (e.g., not perform substantialwork). While portions of the cushioning element 210 that extend orprovided in other directions (directions other than the direction ofimpact 239 such as a direction that is substantially perpendicular tothe direction of impact) may at least in some cases lengthen (or attemptto lengthen) during the collision, causing the correspondingtension-bearing members 230C, 230D and 230E to stretch or perform workand dissipate some of the kinetic energy associated with the collision.This is merely an example embodiment. In another example embodiment, theactuatable cushioning element may be provided as a web or mesh oftension-bearing members, without a bag to support the tension-bearingmembers.

FIG. 15 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 15 illustrates example embodiments where thedissipating operation 630 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operations 1502 and/or 1504.

At the operation 1502, at least some of an energy associated with acollision is dissipated based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming includingsubstantially inelastically stretching during a collision at least oneof the tension-bearing members that extend in a direction that issubstantially perpendicular to a direction of impact of the collision.For example, tension-bearing member 230C, which may extend in adirection (FIG. 3B) that is substantially perpendicular to direction ofimpact of the collision 239, may stretch during a collision to dissipateat least some of the energy associated with the collision.

At the operation 1504, at least some of an energy associated with acollision is dissipated based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the at least one of thetension-bearing members including a heat capacity material associatedtherewith to absorb at least some of the thermal energy associated withthe collision. For example, tension-bearing member 230 may include aheat capacity material 512 (e.g., FIG. 5A) applied thereto to absorb atleast some of the thermal energy that may be generated by the workperformed by the tension-bearing member 230. Thus, the heat capacitymaterial 512 may, at least in some cases, increase the work capacity ofthe tension-bearing member 230.

FIG. 16 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 600 of FIG. 6. FIG. 16 illustrates example embodiments where thedissipating operation 630 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 1602.

At the operation 1602, at least some of an energy associated with acollision is dissipated based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the at least one of thetension-bearing members including a heat capacity material associatedtherewith to use a phase change to increase a capacity to have work doneon the at least one of the tension bearing members. For example,tension-bearing member 230 may include a heat capacity material 512(FIG. 5B), such as water, associated with the tension-bearing member230. For example, the tension-bearing member 230 may be soaked in water,or the water may otherwise be applied to a surface of thetension-bearing member 230. In an example embodiment, the heat capacitymaterial 512, after being applied to the tension-bearing member 230, mayundergo a phase change, e.g., from water to gas (or other phase change)during the collision, which may increase a capacity to have work done on(or by) the at least one of the tension-bearing members 230.

FIG. 17 illustrates a partial view of an example computer programproduct 1700 that includes a computer program 1704 for executing acomputer process on a computing device. An embodiment of the examplecomputer program product 1700 is provided using a signal bearing medium1702, and may include one or more instructions for one or moreinstructions for determining an event, the signal bearing medium alsobearing one or more instructions for actuating a cushioning element inresponse to the determining the event, the cushioning element includingone or more tension-bearing members, and the signal bearing medium alsobearing one or more instructions for providing control sufficient tocause dissipation at least some of an energy associated with a collisionbased on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members duringthe collision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. The one ormore instructions may be, for example, computer executable and/orlogic-implemented instructions. In one implementation, thesignal-bearing medium 1702 may include a computer-readable medium 1706.In one implementation, the signal bearing medium 1702 may include arecordable medium 1708. In one implementation, the signal bearing medium1702 may include a communications medium 1710.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example system 1800. The system 1800 may includea computing device 1810. The system 1800 may also include one or moreinstructions that when executed on the computing device cause thecomputing device to: (a) determine an event; (b) actuate a cushioningelement in response to the determining the event, the cushioning elementincluding one or more tension-bearing members; and (c) provide controlsufficient to dissipate at least some of an energy associated with acollision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing membersduring the collision, the deforming including substantiallyinelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members1820. In some implementations, the computing device 1800 may be acomputational device embedded in a vehicle, or may be afunctionally-dedicated computational device. In some implementations,the computing device 1800 may be include a distributed computationaldevice including one or more devices on a vehicle configured tocommunicate with a remote control plant (e.g., such as communicatingwith a remote computer via a wireless network).

In an alternative embodiment, the computing device 1810 may include oneor more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, atablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing systemcomprised of a cluster of processors, a workstation computer, and/or adesktop computer (1812).

FIG. 19 illustrates an example apparatus 1900 in which embodiments maybe implemented. In implementation 1910, the apparatus 1900 may include acushioning element, the cushioning element including one or moretension-bearing members, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers configured to deform in response to a collision or impact,including the at least one of the one or more tension-bearing membersbeing configured to substantially inelastically deform after reaching anelastic limit during a deformation. For example, actuatable cushioningelement 210 (FIG. 5A) may include one or more tension-bearing members230A, 230B, 230C, . . . . The tension-bearing members 230 may deform inresponse to a collision or impact. At least one of the tension-bearingmembers 230 (e.g., 230C) may substantially inelastically deform afterreaching an elastic limit.

FIG. 19 also illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleapparatus 1900. FIG. 19 illustrates example embodiments that may includeat least one additional implementation. Additional implementations mayinclude implementations 1912, 1922, 1924, 1930 and/or 1940.

In implementation 1912, the implementation 1910 may include a cushioningelement, the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearingmembers, at least one of the one or more tension-bearing membersconfigured to deform in response to a collision or impact, including theat least one of the one or more tension-bearing members being configuredto substantially inelastically stretch after reaching an elastic limit.For example, tension-bearing member 230C may inelastically stretchduring a collision after reaching an elastic limit.

In implementation 1922, the apparatus 1900 may further include a heatcapacity material associated with at least one of the tension-bearingmembers. For example, a heat capacity material 512 (FIG. 5A) associatedwith tension-bearing member 230.

In implementation 1924, the apparatus 1900 may further include a heatcapacity material in contact with at least one of the one or moretension-bearing members to increase a work capacity of the at least oneof the one or more tension-bearing members. For example, a heat capacitymaterial 512 (FIG. 5A) may be in contact with the tension-bearing member230 to increase a work capacity of the tension-bearing member 230.

In implementation 1930, the apparatus 1900 may further include anelement controller configured to control the cushioning element. Forexample, an element controller 214 (FIG. 2) or other controller maycontrol the actuatable cushioning element 210, such as providing overallcontrol or controlling the actuation of the actuatable cushioningelement 210 including, in some cases, providing control over operationof tension-bearing members 230.

In implementation 1940, the apparatus 1900 may further include an eventdetector coupled to the element controller configured to detect anevent. For example, an event detector 218 (FIG. 2) may be coupled to anelement controller 214 to detect an event.

FIG. 20 also illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleapparatus 1900. FIG. 20 illustrates example embodiments that may includeat least one additional implementation. Additional implementations mayinclude implementations 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and/or 2012.

In implementation 2002, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers comprises one or more polyaramid fibers. For example, atension-bearing member 230C may comprise one or more polyaramid fibers.

In implementation 2004, one or more of the tension-bearing members(e.g., tension-bearing member 230C) comprises at least one of agraphitic fiber, a carbon fiber, and/or a natural fiber.

In implementation 2006, one or more of the tension-bearing members(e.g., tension-bearing member 230C) comprises at least one of apoly-benzobisoxazole fiber, and/or a synthetic fiber.

In implementation 2008, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers (e.g., 230C) lies on a surface of the cushioning element (e.g.,cushioning element 210, FIGS. 3A and 3B).

In implementation 2010, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers (e.g., 230C) lies within an interior portion of the cushioningelement (e.g., 210, FIGS. 3A and 3B).

In implementation 2012, at least some of the tension-bearing membershave different tension properties than other tension-bearing members.For example, tension-bearing member 230C may have a tensile strength, athickness or size, may be made from a material, or other tensionproperty that may be different from one or more such tension propertiesof tension bearing members 230D and 230E (FIG. 2), for example.

FIG. 21 illustrates an operational flow 2100 representing exampleoperations related to cushioning elements.

At operation 2110, a cushioning element is constructed including one ormore tension-bearing members, at least one of the one or moretension-bearing members being configured to stretch during a collision,including being configured to stretch beyond an elastic limit, todissipate at least some of a kinetic energy associated with thecollision. For example, an actuatable cushioning element 210A, 210B(FIGS. 3A and 3B) may be constructed that includes one or moretension-bearing members 230A, 230B, 230C, 230D, and/or 230E, . . . . Atleast one of these tension bearing members (e.g., tension-bearing member230D) may stretch during a collision, including stretching beyond anelastic limit to dissipate at least some of a kinetic energy associatedwith a collision, e.g., associated with a collision between vehicles 410and 420 (or between two other objects).

FIG. 21 also illustrates alternative embodiments of the exampleoperational flow 2100 of FIG. 21. FIG. 21 illustrates exampleembodiments where the determining operation 610 may include at least oneadditional operation. Additional operations may include operations 2112,2114 and/or 2116.

At operation 2112, a cushioning element is constructed including one ormore tension-bearing members, the cushioning element being configured tobe actuated in response to an event, at least one of the one or moretension-bearing members being configured to stretch beyond an elasticlimit during a collision to convert at least some of a kinetic energyassociated with the collision to thermal energy to provide cushioningsupport for an object. For example, cushioning element 210A (FIG. 3A)may include one or more tension bearing members 230. The cushioningelement 210A may be configured to be actuated in response to an event(e.g., an event detected by an event detector 158 or 218, FIGS. 1, 2).At least one of the tension bearing members, e.g., tension bearingmember 230D, may be configured to stretch beyond an elastic limit duringa collision (e.g., during a collision between vehicles 410 and 420) toconvert at least some of a kinetic energy associated with the collisionto thermal energy to provide cushioning support for an object, such asfor vehicle 410 (FIG. 4) or passengers therein.

At operation 2114, a cushioning element is constructed including one ormore tension-bearing members and a heat capacity material associatedwith at least a portion of at least one of the tension-bearing membersto absorb at least some of the thermal energy associated with thecollision. This thermal energy absorption may limit the temperature riseexperienced by tension-bearing member(s) associated with the collision,and may thereby increase a capacity to have work done on the at leastone of the tension-bearing members. For example, a cushioning element210 may be constructed that includes one or more tension-bearing members230. The tension-bearing member 230 may include a heat capacity material512 (FIG. 5A), which may be water or other heat capacity material, toabsorb at least some of the thermal energy associated with thecollision.

At operation 2116, a cushioning element is constructed including one ormore tension-bearing members and a heat capacity material associatedwith at least a portion of at least one of the tension-bearing members,the heat capacity material being adapted to use a phase change toincrease a capacity to have work done on the at least one of the tensionbearing members. For example, a cushioning element 210 (e.g., FIG. 3A)may be constructed to include one or more tension-bearing members 230(FIG. 3A and FIG. 5A, 5B), and a heat capacity material 512 associatedwith at least a portion of one of the tension-bearing members (e.g.,tension-bearing member 230D). Heat capacity material 512 may be water orother appropriate material. Heat capacity material may be adapted toundergo a phase change (e.g., water to gas, solid to liquid, solid togas), such as during the collision, increase a capacity to have workdone on the at least one of the tension-bearing members 230D. Forexample, water may be utilized to cool the tension-bearing member, andthis water or heat capacity material 512 may boil off during a collisionto increase the work capacity for the tension-bearing member 230D. Insome instances, thermal energy absorption may limit the temperature riseexperienced by the tension-bearing member(s) associated with acollision, and may thereby increase a capacity to have work done on theat least one of the tension-bearing members. This is merely an example,and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; theuse of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that incertain contexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context inwhich the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardwareand/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies describedherein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to theother in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon thecontext in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns(e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any ofwhich may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that opticalaspects of implementations will typically employ optically-orientedhardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, a RAM, aflash memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digitaland/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, awaveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link,etc.).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various typesof “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electricalcircuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry havingat least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of randomaccess memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communicationsdevice (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electricalequipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that thesubject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog ordigital fashion or some combination thereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein,and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such describeddevices and/or processes into data processing systems. That is, at leasta portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can beintegrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that atypical data processing system generally includes one or more of asystem unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatileand non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one ormore interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or controlsystems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback forsensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/oradjusting components and/or quantities). A typical data processingsystem may be implemented utilizing any suitable commercially availablecomponents, such as those typically found in datacomputing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.Any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed asbeing “operably couplable” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

While certain features of the described implementations have beenillustrated as disclosed herein, many modifications, substitutions,changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. Itis, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the embodiments of the invention.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from this subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of this subject matter describedherein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solelydefined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those withinthe art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in theappended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generallyintended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one ormore”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled inthe art will recognize that such recitation should typically beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typicallymeans at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone,C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general sucha construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that any disjunctive word and/orphrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining an event;actuating a cushioning element in response to the determining the event,the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members;dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision basedon deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during thecollision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:determining a pre-collision event.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein thedetermining an event comprises: determining that an object has reached aspecific location.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining anevent comprises: determining that a collision has occurred.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:determining a change in acceleration that exceeds a threshold.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:determining that a collision between two objects is likely to occur. 7.The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:determining that a collision between two objects is likely to occurbased on at least a relative location of the two objects.
 8. The methodof claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises: determining thata collision between two objects is likely to occur based on a relativelocation and a relative orientation of the two objects.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises: determining that acollision between a first object and a second object is likely to occurbased on at least a relative location and a relative velocity of thefirst object with respect to the second object.
 10. The method of claim1 wherein the determining an event comprises: determining that acollision between a first object and a second object is likely to occurbased on at least a relative location, a relative velocity, and arelative acceleration of the first object with respect to the secondobject.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an eventcomprises: determining that a collision between a first object and asecond object is likely to occur based on at least a relative location,a relative velocity, a relative orientation, and a relative angularvelocity of the first object with respect to the second object.
 12. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:determining that a collision between a first object and a second objectis likely to occur based on at least a relative acceleration and anangular acceleration of the first object with respect to the secondobject.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an eventcomprises: determining that a collision between a first object and asecond object is likely to occur based on at least one of: a relativelocation of the first object with respect to the second object; arelative velocity of the first object with respect to the second object;a relative acceleration of the first object with respect to the secondobject; a relative orientation of the first object with respect to thesecond object; a relative angular velocity of the first object withrespect to the second object; or a relative angular acceleration of thefirst object with respect to the second object.
 14. The method of claim1 wherein the determining an event comprises: determining that acollision between a first object and a second object is likely to occurbased on a relative velocity of the first object with respect to thesecond object.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining anevent comprises: determining that a collision between a first object anda second object is likely to occur based on a relative acceleration ofthe first object with respect to the second object.
 16. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises: determining that acollision between a first object and a second object is likely to occurbased on a relative orientation of the first object with respect to thesecond object.
 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining anevent comprises: determining that a collision between a first object anda second object is likely to occur based on a relative angular velocityof the first object with respect to the second object.
 18. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises: determining that acollision between a first object and a second object is likely to occurbased on a relative angular acceleration of the first object withrespect to the second object.
 19. The method of claim 1 wherein theactuating a cushioning element in response to the determining the event,the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members,comprises: expanding the cushioning element to place the one or moretension-bearing members in an initial state.
 20. The method of claim 1wherein the actuating a cushioning element in response to thedetermining the event, the cushioning element including one or moretension-bearing members, comprises: inflating an inflatable gas bag toplace the one or more tension-bearing members in an initial state. 21.The method of claim 1 wherein the dissipating at least some of an energyassociated with a collision based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming includingsubstantially inelastically stretching the at least one of thetension-bearing members, comprises: dissipating at least some of anenergy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one ofthe tension-bearing members during the collision, the deformingincluding substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of thetension-bearing members after the at least one of the tension bearingmembers reaches an elastic limit to convert at least some of a kineticenergy associated with the collision to thermal energy.
 22. The methodof claim 1 wherein the dissipating at least some of an energy associatedwith a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearingmembers during the collision, the deforming including substantiallyinelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearingmembers, comprises: dissipating at least some of an energy associatedwith a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearingmembers during the collision, the deforming including substantiallyinelastically stretching during a collision at least one of thetension-bearing members that extend in a direction other than adirection of impact of the collision.
 23. The method of claim 1 whereinthe dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collisionbased on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members duringthe collision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, comprises:dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision basedon deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during thecollision, the deforming including substantially inelasticallystretching during a collision at least one of the tension-bearingmembers that extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicularto a direction of impact of the collision.
 24. The method of claim 1wherein the dissipating at least some of an energy associated with acollision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing membersduring the collision, the deforming including substantiallyinelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing memberscomprises: dissipating at least some of an energy associated with acollision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing membersduring the collision, the at least one of the tension-bearing membersincluding a heat capacity material associated therewith to absorb atleast some of the thermal energy associated with the collision.
 25. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the dissipating at least some of an energyassociated with a collision based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming includingsubstantially inelastically stretching the at least one of thetension-bearing members comprises: dissipating at least some of anenergy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one ofthe tension-bearing members during the collision, the at least one ofthe tension-bearing members including a heat capacity materialassociated therewith to use a phase change to increase a capacity tohave work done on the at least one of the tension bearing members.
 26. Acomputer program product comprising: a signal-bearing medium bearing:(a) one or more instructions for determining an event; (b) one or moreinstructions for actuating a cushioning element in response to thedetermining the event, the cushioning element including one or moretension-bearing members; and (c) one or more instructions for providingcontrol sufficient to cause dissipation of at least some of an energyassociated with a collision based on deforming at least one of thetension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming includingsubstantially inelastically stretching the at least one of thetension-bearing members.
 27. The computer program product of claim 26,wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the signal-bearingmedium includes a recordable medium.
 29. The computer program product ofclaim 26, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communicationsmedium.
 30. A system comprising: a computing device; and one or moreinstructions that when executed on the computing device cause thecomputing device to: (a) determine an event; (b) actuate a cushioningelement in response to the determining the event, the cushioning elementincluding one or more tension-bearing members; and (c) provide controlsufficient to dissipate at least some of an energy associated with acollision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing membersduring the collision, the deforming including substantiallyinelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearingmembers.
 31. The system of claim 30 wherein the computing devicecomprises: one or more of a computational device embedded in a vehicle,a functionally-dedicated computational device, a distributedcomputational device including one or more vehicle-mounted devicesconfigured to communicate with a remote control plant, personal digitalassistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, anetworked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster ofprocessors, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.
 32. Anapparatus comprising: a cushioning element, the cushioning elementincluding one or more tension-bearing members, at least one of the oneor more tension-bearing members configured to deform in response to acollision or impact, including the at least one of the one or moretension-bearing members being configured to substantially inelasticallydeform after reaching an elastic limit during a deformation.
 33. Theapparatus of claim 32 wherein the cushioning element comprises: acushioning element, the cushioning element including one or moretension-bearing members, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers configured to deform in response to a collision or impact,including the at least one of the one or more tension-bearing membersbeing configured to substantially inelastically stretch after reachingan elastic limit.
 34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein at least one ofthe one or more tension-bearing members comprises: one or morepolyaramid fibers.
 35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein one or more ofthe tension-bearing members comprises: at least one of a graphiticfiber, a carbon fiber, and/or a natural fiber.
 36. The apparatus ofclaim 32 wherein at least one of the one or more tension-bearing memberscomprises: at least one of a poly-benzobisoxazole fiber, and/or asynthetic fiber.
 37. The apparatus of claim 32 and further comprising aheat capacity material associated with at least one of thetension-bearing members.
 38. The apparatus of claim 32 and furthercomprising a heat capacity material in contact with at least one of theone or more tension-bearing members to increase a work capacity of theat least one of the one or more tension-bearing members.
 39. Theapparatus of claim 32 wherein at least one of the one or moretension-bearing members lies on a surface of the cushioning element. 40.The apparatus of claim 32 wherein at least one of the one or moretension-bearing members lies within an interior portion of thecushioning element.
 41. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein at least someof the tension-bearing members have different tension properties thanother tension-bearing members.
 42. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein theapparatus further comprises: an element controller configured to controlthe cushioning element; and an event detector coupled to the elementcontroller configured to detect an event.
 43. A method comprising:constructing a cushioning element including one or more tension-bearingmembers, at least one of the one or more tension-bearing members beingconfigured to stretch during a collision, including being configured tostretch beyond an elastic limit, to dissipate at least some of a kineticenergy associated with the collision.
 44. The method of claim 43 whereinthe constructing a cushioning element including one or moretension-bearing members, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers being configured to stretch during a collision, including beingconfigured to stretch beyond an elastic limit, to dissipate at leastsome of a kinetic energy associated with the collision comprises:constructing a cushioning element including one or more tension-bearingmembers, the cushioning element being configured to be actuated inresponse to an event, at least one of the one or more tension-bearingmembers being configured to stretch beyond an elastic limit during acollision to convert at least some of a kinetic energy associated withthe collision to thermal energy to provide cushioning support for anobject.
 45. The method of claim 43 wherein the constructing a cushioningelement including one or more tension-bearing members, at least one ofthe one or more tension-bearing members being configured to stretchduring a collision, including being configured to stretch beyond anelastic limit, to dissipate at least some of a kinetic energy associatedwith the collision comprises: constructing a cushioning elementincluding one or more tension-bearing members and a heat capacitymaterial associated with at least a portion of at least one of thetension-bearing members to absorb at least some of the thermal energyassociated with the collision.
 46. The method of claim 43 wherein theconstructing a cushioning element including one or more tension-bearingmembers, at least one of the one or more tension-bearing members beingconfigured to stretch during a collision, including being configured tostretch beyond an elastic limit, to dissipate at least some of a kineticenergy associated with the collision comprises: constructing acushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members and aheat capacity material associated with at least a portion of at leastone of the tension-bearing members, the heat capacity material beingadapted to use a phase change to increase a capacity to have work doneon the at least one of the tension bearing members.